SSC CGL Tier 1 2023 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The given sentence is an imperative sentence starting with the word Let. To convert an imperative sentence of the structure Let + Subject + Verb + Object into the passive voice, the construction used is Let + Object + be + Past Participle (V3) + by + Agent. In the active sentence, me is the agent, buy is the verb, and an expensive bag is the direct object. Applying the passive transformation rule, the object an expensive bag is moved after Let, followed by the auxiliary be and the third form of the verb buy, which is bought. The agent me is then added using the preposition by. The prepositional phrase for my friend remains at the end of the sentence to complete the meaning, resulting in the passive form: Let an expensive bag be bought by me for my friend.

Explanation

The idiom as dead as a doornail is used to describe something that is unequivocally dead, finished, or no longer functional. In the context of the sentence, describing a career as completely obsolete implies that it has lost all relevance, usefulness, or life. This figurative expression serves as an emphatic synonym for being defunct or totally out of date, matching the meaning of obsolescence where something has ceased to exist in a practical or active sense.

Explanation

The word inclined functions as an adjective meaning to have a mental tendency, preference, or disposition toward a particular belief or action. In the context of the sentence, it indicates that the speaker feels a predisposition or a leaning toward agreeing with Arthur on this specific occasion. The word tended reflects this same sense of being disposed or having a likelihood to behave or think in a certain way, serving as the most accurate synonym for expressing a lean or bias in thought.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression from a general psychological concept to specific natural observations. Sentence C introduces the core theme of giving and its positive impact on the individual. Sentence D then transitions this theme to a broader context, identifying unconditional giving as a fundamental principle of nature that provides solids, liquids, and minerals. Sentences A and B provide concrete examples that support the general statement in D, with sentence A focusing on water as a liquid resource and sentence B focusing on trees as solid resources. This arrangement moves from the abstract benefit of giving to the tangible ways nature exemplifies this principle.

Explanation

The word diffident is derived from the Latin diffidere, which means to mistrust. In English, it describes a person who lacks self-confidence and is consequently shy, hesitant, or reserved in social situations. In the context of the sentence, being diffident is paired with being quieter than usual, indicating a state of being modest or self-effacing. This lack of assurance often leads an individual to avoid drawing attention to themselves, which is the defining characteristic of shyness rooted in a lack of confidence.

Explanation

The conjunction When is used to denote a specific point in time or a single completed action that triggers a subsequent event. In this sentence, seeing the bear is a sudden, momentary event that initiates a sequence of actions: running, dropping the gun, and climbing. While is typically used to describe an action with duration or two continuous actions happening simultaneously. Since the context describes a punctual event leading to a reaction, When is the grammatically appropriate choice to establish the correct temporal relationship between the clauses.

Explanation

The term versatile refers to a person or object that exhibits a wide range of skills or functions and can easily adapt to different tasks or fields of endeavor. It originates from the Latin word versatilis, meaning turning or moving with ease. In a professional or creative context, a versatile individual possesses diverse talents and the flexibility to transition between multiple roles or activities effectively, making them capable of handling various types of work rather than being restricted to a single specialization.

Explanation

The word definite refers to something that is clearly stated, certain, or precise in nature. Its most appropriate antonym in this context is vague, which describes something that is not clearly expressed, lacks precision, or is uncertain in character. While definite implies clarity and distinctness, vague indicates a lack of detail or definition, making it the direct semantic opposite for describing weaknesses or arrangements.

Explanation

The segment contains an error in the use of the definite article. In English grammar, superlative adjectives such as most difficult must be preceded by the article the when they are used to compare one item against a group. Since the sentence identifies one specific adjustment as being at the highest degree of difficulty among a set of adjustments, it should correctly read This will be the most difficult of to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Explanation

The sentence establishes a clear past time context through the subordinate clause when the man was working. To maintain tense consistency, the main clause must also reflect the past. The past perfect form had visited correctly indicates an action that was completed during or before the specified past period. This construction properly pairs the auxiliary verb had with the past participle visited, satisfying both the chronological and grammatical requirements of the sentence.

Explanation

The idiom to catch a tartar means to encounter or deal with someone who proves to be unexpectedly formidable, strong, or difficult to handle. In the given sentence, the speaker's business partners underestimated them, thinking they would passively accept being cheated. By stating that the partners will soon realise the speaker is more powerful than expected, the sentence describes a situation where the antagonists have unknowingly challenged a much tougher opponent than they anticipated, which is the exact definition of catching a tartar.

Explanation

The word rowdy is used to describe a person or a group that is noisy, disorderly, and often unruly or difficult to control. In the context of a classroom, it implies that the students are misbehaving or being disruptive. The word compliant describes someone who is inclined to agree with others or obey rules and commands. Since a compliant student follows instructions and maintains order, it serves as the most appropriate antonym for rowdy, which indicates a lack of discipline and defiance of authority.

Explanation

The word probably is used to indicate that something is likely to happen but is not certain. It expresses a degree of uncertainty or a high likelihood. An antonym must represent the opposite of this concept, which is absolute certainty. The word definitely signifies that something will occur without any doubt or question, making it the direct opposite of a probabilistic statement.

Explanation

The word fierce characterizes someone or something that displays an intense, powerful, or ferocious temperament. It describes a nature that is marked by extreme force, violence, or a wild intensity in actions and emotions. Aggressive is the most suitable synonym because it refers to a person or animal that is ready to attack or confront others with great force and vigor. Both terms share the core meaning of being forceful, bold, and possessing a high degree of intensity in behavior or competition.

Explanation

The context of the passage describes the author's persistent and continuous efforts to master the craft of writing through the process of completing several novels. The phrase went on followed by the participle trying indicates a sustained action over time. The adverb steadily means in a regular, even, and continuous manner, which perfectly characterizes a dedicated professional effort to improve one's skills through repeated practice and experience.

Explanation

In the context of the sentence, the author is describing their early career struggles and the feeling of stagnation. The word much functions as a quantifier for uncountable nouns like progress to indicate a significant degree or amount. The construction without feeling that I had made much progress conveys that while some work was done, the narrator did not feel they had achieved a substantial or satisfying level of improvement in their craft. This usage aligns with standard English collocations where much is typically employed in negative or restrictive contexts to denote an insufficient quantity of an abstract concept.

Explanation

The author employs the metaphor of an artisan to describe her development and technical proficiency as a writer. In this context, implements refer to the creative tools and literary techniques used to construct a story. The phrase full control denotes mastery, command, and the ability to use these tools effectively to achieve a desired artistic result. This sense of mastery aligns with the author's realization that she had finally figured out how to write according to her own standards, moving beyond her earlier experimental phases where she felt she had not made sufficient progress.

Explanation

The adverb severely is used to describe an action performed to a very great or intense degree, often in a harsh or critical manner. In the context of literary reception, being severely criticised indicates that the reviewers were extremely rigorous and harsh in their negative assessment of the novel's structure. This choice aligns with the author's description of the reviewers finding the work clumsy, suggesting a level of intensity in their disapproval that required the author to defend the long-pondered structure of the tale.

Explanation

The context of the sentence requires a noun that signifies a choice between two or more possibilities or a different option for the novel's structure. The term alternative refers to a potential choice or a substitute course of action that could be used instead of the one currently employed. In this passage, the author mentions that despite the difficulties and perceived awkwardness of the chosen structure, they could not conceive of any other structural arrangement or method that would have served the narrative requirements as effectively. Therefore, it is the most linguistically appropriate fit to describe a different choice of structural design.

Explanation

The word expensive means high-priced, and its direct antonym is cheap, which means low-priced. The other options, such as costly, premium, and precious, are synonyms or related in meaning to expensive.

Explanation

Sentence B is grammatically correct because it uses the appropriate definite articles for specific nouns, whereas Sentence A is incorrect due to the use of an before the consonant sound in life. Sentence C is incorrect because an hospital is generally not standard English, and Sentence B provides the most cohesive structure for the context described.

Explanation

The word Wajes is an incorrect spelling of the word Wages. In English orthography, the term used to describe fixed regular payments made by an employer to an employee for work done is spelled with a g instead of a j. Wages is the plural form of wage, derived from the Middle English word wagier, meaning a pledge or a payment.

Explanation

In a first conditional sentence, the conditional clause (if-clause) must be in the simple present tense, not the future tense. The correct phrasing should be If it rains, we will have a tough time.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the simple present tense (interrogative negative form). To convert it to passive voice, the auxiliary verb 'is' is used with the past participle 'licked', resulting in the structure: Is + subject (the butter) + not + V3 (licked) + by + agent (Sneha).

Explanation

The idiom cut corners means to do something in the fastest, cheapest, or easiest way possible, usually by omitting necessary steps or neglecting quality and standards. In the context of option b, the artist likely skipped important details or rushed through the process to save time or effort. Consequently, the painting suffered in quality and appeared unfinished. This usage accurately reflects the negative outcome that typically follows when someone sacrifices thoroughness for the sake of speed or convenience.

Explanation

To convert a sentence with a modal verb (would) into passive voice, the structure follows 'Object + modal + not + be + past participle (V3) + by + Subject'. Therefore, 'The pill would not be swallowed by Rover' is the grammatically correct passive form.

Explanation

The superlative adjective nearest is more appropriate than the simple adjective nearby because the sentence describes the Moon's unique position as the closest large celestial body to Earth. Using the superlative degree correctly identifies the Moon's specific rank in terms of distance among all celestial objects.

Explanation

The word cheered means to shout in support or praise, which aligns most closely with the meaning of encouraged in this context. The other options like distracted, dropped, and attracted do not convey the same sense of vocal support or motivation.

Explanation

A granary is specifically defined as a storehouse or a room for storing threshed grain. The other options refer to places for processing leather (tannery), storing food and dishes (pantry), or manufacturing coins (mint).

Explanation

The word ape is used informally to describe a person who is physically large, clumsy, and lacking in mental sharpness or refinement. This usage draws a comparison between the individual's unrefined behavior and the perceived lumbering nature of a large primate, specifically characterizing someone who is both physically awkward and slow-witted.

Explanation

A person who lacks the power of hearing is referred to as deaf. In contrast, dumb refers to someone who cannot speak, and inaudible describes a sound that cannot be heard.

Explanation

Pedagogy refers to the method and practice of teaching or education, making it the most appropriate synonym for the word education in this context. The other options refer to comparison (analogy), political manipulation (demagogy), or traditional stories (mythology), which do not fit the meaning.

Explanation

The sentence requires a present participle to form a reduced adverbial clause that indicates an action occurring simultaneously with the main instruction. Using crossing after when is the standard grammatical structure for this context.

Explanation

The word termagant refers to a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman who is loud and quarrelsome. Option D provides the accurate dictionary definition of the term.

Explanation

The idiom hit the jackpot means to achieve a sudden, significant success or to experience a stroke of great luck that leads to a substantial gain. While the term originates from gambling, specifically poker and slot machines where a jackpot is the largest possible prize, its figurative use applies to any situation where someone attains an exceptionally favorable result or discovers exactly what they were looking for to ensure a major triumph.

Explanation

The term personnel is a collective noun that refers to the body of people employed in an organization or engaged in a specific service, such as the armed forces. In formal and official contexts, military personnel is the standard idiomatic expression used to describe members of the military as a group. While person refers to a single individual, personnel is used to denote the staff or members of a collective body, making it the grammatically and contextually appropriate choice for a reservation intended for a class of people.

Explanation

The word lament means to express grief, sorrow, or regret, making it a synonym of words like regret and deplore. The most appropriate antonym is celebrate, which means to rejoice or express joy and praise.

Explanation

The word yell means to shout or cry out with a loud, sharp sound, often to express strong emotion or to be heard from a distance. In contrast, whisper means to speak very softly and quietly, using the breath rather than the vocal cords so that only those very close can hear. Because these words represent opposite extremes of vocal volume and intensity, whisper serves as the direct antonym.

Explanation

The word misanthropic is derived from the Greek roots misos, meaning hatred, and anthropos, meaning mankind. It characterizes an individual who harbors a general dislike, distrust, or disdain for humanity and often seeks to avoid human society altogether. Antisocial refers to a person who is not sociable or who avoids the company of others, reflecting a disposition that is hostile or indifferent to social interaction and the norms of human society. Because both terms describe a fundamental avoidance of or hostility toward human association and social engagement, antisocial is the most fitting synonym.

Explanation

The word emerge is the most appropriate choice because it describes the physical action of the currency notes coming out or appearing from within the automated teller machine. In the context of the passage, the grandmother is depicted as being shocked by the modern reality of money appearing from a mechanical device rather than being earned or found in traditional ways. Emerge specifically denotes the process of coming forth from a concealed or enclosed space into view, which accurately depicts how banknotes are dispensed from an ATM slot.

Explanation

The sentence describes the functional state of ATMs throughout the day and night. In English, the verb operate is the standard term used to describe the functioning or running of a machine, system, or business. The phrase operate around the clock is a common idiomatic expression meaning to function or remain in service twenty four hours a day without interruption. Since ATMs are designed to provide automated banking services at any time, the word operate correctly characterizes their continuous mechanical and electronic activity.

Explanation

The passage outlines the chronological stages of the ATM's development and its legal recognition. In the context of inventions and intellectual property, the term filed is specifically used to denote the official submission of a patent application or a technical design to a regulatory body. Given that the sentence concludes by noting a patent was granted in 1973, the use of filed in 1968 correctly describes the initial formal step in the patenting process that precedes the construction of a prototype and the eventual issuance of the patent.

Explanation

The correct preposition to describe distribution throughout an area like a city or a country is across. The phrase spread out across denotes that the terminals are located in various parts of the entire region.

Explanation

The word depending is the most appropriate choice because it creates the standard idiomatic phrase depending on, which is used to show that one thing is determined by or varies according to another factor. In this context, the type of connection used (dial-up or leased line) is determined by the bank's requirements and customer volume.

Explanation

Sentence C serves as the introductory statement by defining Aestheticism as a European arts movement focused on the doctrine of beauty. Sentence A logically follows by explaining the historical context and the motivation behind the movement's emergence as a reaction to the industrial age. Sentence D then transitions to the intellectual roots of the movement, stating that its philosophical foundations were established by Immanuel Kant in the 18th century. Sentence B concludes the paragraph by using the phrase "This idea" to refer back to the philosophical foundations mentioned in sentence D, detailing how those concepts were further developed and amplified by German figures such as JW von Goethe and JL Tieck.

Explanation

The word Cowardise is misspelled in this context. The correct spelling of the noun denoting a lack of bravery or courage is Cowardice. It originates from the Old French word couardise, but in contemporary English, the spelling has evolved to end with the suffix -ice. This suffix is commonly used in English to form abstract nouns, similar to the construction of words like justice, malice, and notice. The spelling Cowardise is an orthographic error as the suffix -ise is primarily reserved for verbs in English.

Explanation

The word clean is an adjective meaning free from dirt or marks, while untidy is its direct antonym meaning messy or disorganized. Opaque is the antonym of transparent or clear, which refers to light transmission rather than cleanliness.

Explanation

The active sentence is in the simple past tense, as indicated by the verb installed. To convert a simple past active sentence into passive voice, the construction used is: Subject (receiver) + was/were + V3 (past participle) + by + Object (doer).

The object of the active sentence, the new software, is singular and becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Therefore, it is followed by the singular auxiliary verb was and the past participle form installed. The original subject, Myra, is placed at the end preceded by the preposition by. This results in the construction: The new software was installed by Myra on her computer.

Explanation

The word waned means to decrease in vigor, power, or intensity, or to become weaker or smaller over time. In the given sentence, it describes the reduction of the speaker's energy due to the poor performance of their team. The word grew is the most appropriate antonym because it means to increase in size, amount, degree, or intensity. Since waning represents a downward or diminishing trend, growing represents the opposite upward or increasing trend, making it the correct semantic contrast.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice of the future simple tense, which follows the structure: Subject + shall/will + be + past participle (V₃) + by + agent. To convert this into the active voice, the agent of the action (us) becomes the subject (We), and the subject of the passive sentence (Shivam) becomes the object. The verb form changes from shall/will + be + V₃ to the active future simple form: shall/will + base verb (V₁). In formal English, the pronoun We typically takes the auxiliary shall. Applying this rule, the active construction is We shall invite Shivam.